Looking South 1924, Deal
Looking South 1924, Deal Ref: 76046
Memories of Looking South 1924, Deal
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Deal & local memories
Read and share memories of Deal and Kent inspired by Frith photos.
Amusement Arcade And Roller Skating Rink
I grew up in Deal, spent many hours in this shelter, from around 1961, it is still there today. My fondest memories of that time are: directly opposite across the road was a roller skating rink and amusement arcade, cafe and a round bingo hut, later the bingo hut was removed and replaced with swing boats. I loved my time there. I have only one picture of myself on the rink, but cannot see the other attractions, I am trying to locate some pictures of it all, but without luck so far...does anyone have any please? I would love to see them.
Thomas Barwick
Perhaps you would like to know more about Thomas Barwick. Sarah Goodborn was Thomas' s second wife and was possibly the sister of his first wife, Eliza Goodborn, who appears to have died in childbirth. He had three children with Eliza: John (1835), Helen (1839) and Thomas (1844, died in infancy). In 1851 Helen was a servant in a house at Northbourne. Thomas went to Tasmania in 1856; his parents had gone with his 4 youngest siblings in 1840. John had gone with his Uncle Richard in 1854 and had then applied for his father to follow. Thomas lived a quiet life in Tasmania, probably working for his father and brothers. John became a successful farmer and local councillor.Eliza married her cousin John. Helen, who was usually known as Ellen, married John Goldsmith and had 12 children. In her old age she reverted to using Helen. She died in Tasmania in 1931 at the age of 92. I am her namesake, Helen Barwick (although my parents were not aware of... Read more
Memories
My parents were married here on 13th January 1945. The church is at the bottom of Rectory road, which is where I lived and I used to go to the service on Sundays. I remember being given a little card with a picture of violets on it to take home for Mother's day. I was also married here on 27th April 1963, a beautiful sunny day.
Memorial Hospital
The two photos are of Deal War Memorial Hospital on London Road. My brother's godmother, Margaret Paxton, used to be Matron of the Hospital. My father and brother had operations there, my grandfather passed on there and my godmother was a Head Nurse.
Sholden Kent Near Deal Kent. 1810-91 Norris Marsh & Berwick Family
George James Norris and his wife Charlotte, nee Halliday, lived at Alders, Sholden with their 5 children in 1891.
Miss Sarah Norrice who was living with her mother Ursula at Sholden in 1881 was George James's 2nd cousin as her father George Norris was the brother of George James's grandfather Thomas. In 1843 Sarah was christened Sarah Barwick Norris after her grandmother Sarah Barwick or Berwick who was Mrs Sarah Norris of Great mongeham.
Ursula was born in Sholden as Ursula Marsh around 1811, and married George Norris in Deal in 1831, and returned to live in the village (at Cottage place in 1841) untill her death in 1884. She had 8 children (called Norrice) born in the village between 1834-1843, namely Mary, Jane, Ester, George, Frances, Sarah (see above), John & Stephen.
Thomas Barwick, another relation of the Berwicks and Norris' above was found in Sholden in 1851. He is resident with his wife Sarah (born in the village about 1810) and their 2 children... Read more
Sandown Castle
My memory of Sandown Castle was that by the time we were children the sea had washed it away and all that was left were flat stones. You had to pass it to go along the sea trail to the golf course at the north end of Deal. Also that, if I am correct, it is the only castle that Henry VIII built to help protect our shores from invasion that did not survive the elements. The sea can be pretty rough up there as seen in the photo but so invigorating!
St Leonards Church, Deal
My parents had to walk from High Street, Deal to this church on the coldest and snowiest day recorded up to that time for my baptism in February 1947. My godparents were Hazle Rennie (nurse at Deal Hospital), Ena Wilkins (ballet dancer friend of Mother's who lived to be 100) and Bob Eliot (a friend from the Second World War days). We then became parishioners at St George's, Deal, till we moved to Walmer and went to St Mary's.
Deal Promenade 1910
In my young days the greater part of the Prom was crowded with fishing boats. My grandfather, Ted Smith, often purchased the whole of a boatmens' catch. An entry in his old ledger [sadly destroyed in the war] had 'a cran of herrings' for a shilling - a 'cran' was a thousand fish. These were filletted and smoked, at the rear of his premises at 3 Alfred Square, or hawked in the town and around Sandwich.
Riceman's Fire
Riceman's fire was Sunday 6th October 1963. I am researching a book on Deal's shops and have been given the local newspaper for that week. The front page banner headline is "Deal store destroyed by fire." And the introduction reads "Within 90 minutes of first being spotted, fire reduced Deal's largest departmental store, Riceman's, to a jungle of twisted steel girders late on Sunday afternoon ..."
A few weeks ago the East Kent Mercury headlines were of Deal's last department store closing, namely Laughton's originally Baldwins. Last week a headline was "Workers say farewell as Woolworths store shuts." Sad times.
I remember the pony and trap on the seafront in the early 1950s and have a photo of it somewhere in the family albums, taken outside the amusement arcade at the top of King Street. The Regent Bingo Hall, formerly the Regent cinema closed last week.
Deal High Street - The Other End!
I spent my youth with my family "above the shop" in Deal High Street. My father, Morris Orchard, first worked in, then inherited, the family shoe shop, which had been in business since my great grandfather's time. In those days it was F. H. Orchard and Son, Bespoke Bootmaker - we still had stationery lying around with his name on it, and out the back we had the workshop, still with old tools, bits of leather and so on. It passed to my grandfather, M. H. Orchard, whom I remember as a very gruff, frightening old man, who had been injured in the First World War and only got around with difficulty. My father Morris lived his whole life over the shop, except for his war service, his parents moving out after his marriage to Peggy, a library assistant (he proposed on a library reservation card!). I was born in December 1949, my sister Nic in 1952, and my brother Adrian some time later in 1958. We all attended the... Read more
Regent Cinema
My family were Skinners of Deal. My mum Sheila used to work at the Regent cinema on the sea-front. I used to love being able to go & see films over & over when she as working there, (I remember seeing "The Music Man" 7 times!). Does anyone remember the little pony & trap that used to give rides to the children? It used to leave from round the entrance to the pier & go along the sea-front and back - a treat indeed for us kids. There also used to be a photographer who used to stand by the pier & take day-tripper's photos. Does anyone remember the old man (or so he seemed to me as a child), who used to sell matches outside Woolworths (I think it was). He had medals across his chest & used to have his tray of goods round his neck. I also vaguely recall a barrel organ & little monkey in the High Street. Finally, does anyone recall when Ricemans went up... Read more
Piddock And Smiths
My gt. grandfathers married sisters named Brothers. The three familes have been in and around Deal for centuries Gt. grandfather Maxwell was a Royal Marine, as was grandfather Piddock. My father 'Phys' Pidddock was welterweight boxing champ RM in 1925. Smiths were in the fish trade. Ted Smith had the first Fish and Shop in Deal [North side of Alfred Square] well before WW1. Grandfather Piddock had sweet shop in London Road opp. the Parochial School. I worked at Lamberts Laundries and left Deal 1964 to enter legal profession. I recall the summer days swimming, the boatmen, the outbreak of war, evacuation to South Wales, our return to the damaged town we loved, the decline of the laundry trade [we once served hundreds of houses, hotels, the Royal Marine depot etc.]. In 1945 I worked at Swaffields Laundry, College Road with Bert Penn, Bill Spicer. On home visits I always look up old friends and quietly walk the streets in reverie.
Shelter
How could I forget these shelters (there were two of them)? We moved to North Deal in 1954 when I was 10. The shelter at the top of Farrier Street was nearest to me - a place to stand in a storm, I practised hitting hockey balls against the concrete steps, my beloved Granny used to sit on one side and watch the sea, our tenant, in Indian Army officer (retired and without much money) used to sit in the shelter too, very lonely I think, remembering better times. They were the refuge of lovers at night, of fishermen at dawn, of mothers with prams and toddlers on hot summer days. Last time I was in Deal (2007) 'my' shelter was pretty well derelict, the glass all gone, the walls defaced with graffiti. My son couldn't understand why I would stand in such a place staring at the sea, tears in my eyes; or why, without a word, I jumped from the sea wall onto the shingle and went... Read more
I Was Born in The Shop on Left Hand Side, White Fuller (Kent)
The shop on left hand side is White Fuller (Kent) Ltd, 68 High Street, Deal. My father, Cecil Prime, was the owner. Our mother, Phyllis, my brother John Prime and myself lived there. John and I were both born there he in 1948 and myself in 1947. We spent all our formative years here. I have been looking for photos of this building to include in a memory book for my brother's birthday. If there are any other photos around from 1947-1960 I would be interested. John joined the Royal Navy and retired as a Commander and now lives in Portsmouth. I worked at Pfizer, married David Wellard, moved to Hong Kong in 1972 and then to New York State in 1977. We retired to Florida in 1999. The building next door was Brown and Phillips.
Spitfire
About 1943 - disabled Spitfire landed 30 yards from beach opposite Golden Hind cafe and just beyond hotel on right. 3 or 4 chaps stripped off, swam out and pulled pilot from aircraft. I hope pilot survived but don't know if he did. Does anyone know?
Deal Railway Station
I moved to Deal when I was 3. We lived in a house owned by the railway in the station approach. My father was linesman on the railway. I went to the parochial school on London Road. The Headmaster was Mr Scholl and my teacher, Mr Rose. My father's name was Ernest Turner and my mother's was Lily. Her maiden name was Skinner. I had a brother called Brian. On leaving school I worked in Riceman's and also the sweet shop in London Road. It was owned by a Mr Corcoran. He also had one in South Street opposite the bus office where I later worked until I got married in 1962. I can remember a small garage being next door and think it was called Bourners. Opposite the station was a coal yard with an office. Freddie Wisdom (brother of Norman) worked in there. Next door to that the Eagle Tavern. Near the railway fence was a small cafe/cabin that sold hot drinks etc and think it was... Read more
